Can the PC or Cyclo remove swirls? The debate goes on.

Anthony O.

New member
I post on several detailing forums and on the Webcars forum I ran across these statements by Bud Abraham. The following exchange is between he and myself. I will allow the posts to speak for themselves and my purpose for this posting is to aquire the insight of any and all who have had an experience along these lines.



I would ask that you please post your (hopefully) unbiased opinions and any and all photos that you may have to support your stance, either positive or negative.



Thank You,

Anthony







Date: 04-16-04 19:50



Yes, I have used DA's we use them in our detailing process to apply and remove wax and/or sealant.



I even use them sometimes to apply a one step product, but I have to buff that off with a rotary and polishing pad to get any result.



The use of a DA is not done anywhere to remove swirls other than a few detailers. Body shops do not even use a DA other than for sanding off putty.



All of their buffers used a high speed buffer.



The key guy at Ford who deals with their paint finish area states that only a rotary buffer will correct and remove swirls.



All chemical and paint companies say the same thing.



What you think you are doing is not removing but only filling in the swirls.



You need friction and heat and you do not get that with an orbital. You get more friction with your h and than with an orbital.



Sorry to disagree but I have tested and tried it numerous times.



I have no axe to grind with orbitals, I sell both types of tools.



Regards

Bud Abraham

buda





Date: 04-16-04 20:04



Bud.......your explanation is seems to be contradictory



Can you "fill" swirls in with a "non-filling" product while using a DA, such as the Cyclo?



If not then what is "filling" the swirls?



If YES, then is the DA able to shift the clear coat? Or please explain how it "fills", thank you.



Anthony

Details, Details, Details....It's all in the details!







Date: 04-16-04 23:00



Anthony:



I hate to disappoint you but I was just called this week by the owner of Cyclo wanting to know why I have such negative comments to make about the Cyclo tool. I told him that it was not a case of being negative, it was that personally I do not like a dual headed product and explained why.



Then we got into the discussion about filling and removing compound swirls and he agreed that his tool did not have the speed and friction to remove the swirls but only fill them.



I have no idea what you are trying to get at with your words.



Bud Abraham

buda







Date: 04-17-04 22:21



Bud, thanks for the reply and my words are rather simple really.......you claim, as does the Cyclo maker, that the Cyclo is just filling the swirls but how can that be if one is using a NON filling polish, like Menzernas Final Polish?



What is "filling" the swirls? I could understand if one is using a glaze like 3M IHG or #7.



I am not stating that the PC or Cyclo can perform like a rotary because it doesn't but if used correctly they can give some impressive results.



I will attempt to demonstrate this with photos as time allows.



Anthony

Details, Details, Details....It's all in the details!







Date: 04-18-04 00:38



Anthony:



Thanks for the clarification.



1. What is a "non-filling" swirl remover? Could you describe the characteristics of this product. It would seem to me that any swirl remover that has oils and possibly waxes of some type in it would fill.



2. No one is challenging that the Cyclo will not provide, as you say, some impressive results. That is not what is under dispute.



What is under dispute is the blanket statement that a Cyclo will remove buffer swirls.



That statement, as originally made is much different than, "will provide some impressive results."



For those on the forum who are new to the industry to make a blanket statement like that would lead them to believe that they do not need to have a rotary buffer, which I, as a somewhat knowledgeable person in the detail business would totally disagree with.



If a detailer is going to restore paint finishes, that is, correct imperfections like scratches; oxidation; dulling; etc. They must have a rotary buffer as their first line of attack.



If you agree with that why waste time with an orbital trying to get swirls out when you know that a rotary buffer; at a lower speed (1300RPM) a foam polishing pad and a swirl remover will do it perfectly?



Thanks for asking the question.



bud A

buda





Date: 04-18-04 01:25



Bud,



I NEVER wrote that a Cyclo or PC can perform or do what a rotary can do. You have made the blanket statement that a Cyclo or PC can not and will not remove swirls, I disagree.



Now if a person is a weekend warrior and they have some light swirls/scratches it would be in their best interest to use their PC first before going and 1) buying a rotary with little knowledge of using one or 2) seeking a "pro" to do it for them, would you not agree?



My statement of "impressive results" is along the lines of swirl/scratch removal. I have custom made pads for my Cyclo plus I have come to discover some unique materials that work great with certain products, and when combined with proper use, provide excellant results. As said I will try to provide photos of this when I get the chance.



Now as for a "non-filling" product, how about 3M's Perfect-It III ? It claims on the bottle to be a "Swirl mark Remover (non-filling)" Either 3M is in error and guilty of false advertising or their Perfect-It Machine Glaze is a "non-filling" product. Which one would you say it is?



Thank you,

Anthony

Details, Details, Details....It's all in the details!









Date: 04-18-04 01:41



Anthony:



This has become a two-way debate between you and I to see who is right and/or wrong.



I think we have both presented our ideas to those on the forum and they can draw their own conclusions.



I am not interested in proving you wrong, just in reporting what I think are the facts, as you are too. We have done that so let us drop it.



Regards

bud Abraham

buda





Date: 04-18-04 21:03



Bud......lol



I like the line you write "I am not interested in proving you wrong" You are so arrogant at times it is incredible. You have presumed that my goal in this "debate" is to prove you wrong and myself right but this is not my intention at all. If you go back and read my posts in their proper context you will see that I only asked you a question because I was puzzled by your statement that a PC or Cyclo can't remove swirls but can only "fill" them. I then asked the logical question of what if one is using a NON-filling product? By which your reply was "What is a non-filling product?" I then gave you an example made by 3M, correct?



My goal is to hopefully show, by way of pictures even, that the Cyclo or the PC can remove swirls. Does this make me right and you wrong? Not in my book but rather it makes us all more informed. Now before anyone feels I am bashing Bud or beating a dead horse please understand that I have the utmost respect for Bud and his knowledge and contributions to the detailing industry, my knowledge pales in comparison, BUT with that said I must also acknowledge that Bud can dish it out but has a hard time taking it and I am sure others understand this also.



Could it be that a PC or Cyclo can remove swirls and Bud is worried that if it can that he may be seen as being "wrong" in the eyes of others and would rather drop it now? Everyone who follows the detailing forums understands that I am not confrontational and that I am never afraid to admit I am wrong and I just might be in error here also and I will freely admit such if I am unable to demonstrate that the Cyclo can remove light swirls/scratches.



Thank You,

Anthony

Details, Details, Details....It's all in the details!









This is the last post on the subject as of 4/18/04 9:17 Pm central time. As already noted I would appreciate any input in their personal experiences.



Thanks again,

Anthony
 
Let it ride, my friend. Let it ride. Bud is Bud. Long time members know what I mean. You won't 'win' this one, and, frankly, why do you care?



I find it quite easy to just ignore him and his old school methods.



I just bought my second PC...



Jim
 
Ugh....



Jim's Right, as sure as the sun will rise, u could argue with him for a year.



I have a rotary, but i still reach for my PC much more often than my rotary. Even when I do use my rotary, i follow up with my pc with a polish, cause I never seem to get a completely satisfactory result with just my rotary.
 
jimamary said:
Let it ride, my friend. Let it ride. Bud is Bud. Long time members know what I mean. You won't 'win' this one, and, frankly, why do you care?



I find it quite easy to just ignore him and his old school methods.



I just bought my second PC...



Jim



Jim :D



Yeah I forget you have had a few run ins with Bud. I also agree that Bud is Bud but this one I may not be able to let go of as easily as the others in the past.......I hope to put this to rest once and for all...(whether right or wrong).....but I doubt that will even matter in the end:D



Thanks,

Anthony
 
bjwebster said:
Ugh....



Jim's Right, as sure as the sun will rise, u could argue with him for a year.



I have a rotary, but i still reach for my PC much more often than my rotary. Even when I do use my rotary, i follow up with my pc with a polish, cause I never seem to get a completely satisfactory result with just my rotary.



bjwebster.......I have seen your work and it is prized work to say to say the least so I will take your response as a "positive" for the PC side:xyxthumbs



Anthony
 
anthony,



if you don't mind me asking, what forum was this from??

also what other good detailing forums are out there? i'd like to get a well rounded base of knowledge. PM me if you can't post here.
 
Guys,



I had a talk with Rightlook a while back and they taped off a hood and did 1/2 with the Cyclo and the other with a rotary. When done, they commented that they really could not tell the difference. Of course, they did not elaborate on the condition. I have used my Cyclo for polishing and the results are very good. I am however, going to be getting the Makita for more severe problems.



R Regan
 
Umm I have some pics somewhere here of a PC going through c.c. with DACP, I'll see if I can't dig them up. (It was a test panel trying this out by the way). I would think if you can remove clear with an abrasive product eventually the c.c. will be leveled enough to get rid of the problem mark...isnt that how it is done or is it by magical phenomena that heat+friction magically make the scratch go away...I agree it is faster and more efficient with a rotary but it can be done with a PC, with the right products and skill/technique.
 
Anthony, I agree with you - you can remove swirls with a PC. About a year ago when I first got hooked, I bought a PC. I had a scratch on my trunk deck which I proceeded to attempt to remove - after working at it for a while I noticed it appeared to be getting less noticeable. Then I worked at it a little more and noticed the finish seemed rough and hazy, dull. The car has a 3 stage paint job and I thought I simply needed to polish it with a finer polish to get it to shine again, but what I finally realized I had done was completely remove the clear coat and the 2nd coat, leaving only the base coat in an area about 4-5 inches in diameter. If you can remove the clear coat and 2nd coat, then you can definitely remove swirls.



While I am sure I could have done that a lot quicker with a rotary buffer, I was able to "achieve" that result (as unwanted as it may have been) with just a PC.



Cory
 
Anthony I am also in your camp with this one. My rotary has been collecting dust for some time now. He obviously hasn't really used a DA becasue he would know that their is heat created when you use one , as much as a rotary no, but still enough to work the product. I've went to the extent of using my PC to remove 2000 grit wet sanding marks , did it remove them as fast as a rotary would no, but personally I feel it left more uniform results. Both of these DA's can work just as well as a rotary if not better for some tasks. They perform the same end result just with a different method , which means when using a DA you may have to use a slightly more aggressive pad and or product. They do remove swirls and guess what they can create them too , I have on occasion seen scratches left behind from my PC when I use a yellow pad and Menzerna Powergloss , so I certainly know it's doing something. Just like there is a learning curve to using a rotary and there is also one to get the full potential from a DA.
 
Hey Autopians,



Thank you for all the responses, the insight and personal stories......exactly what I was looking for:xyxthumbs



I am positive that, when used with a combination of product/pad, the PC and Cyclo can both do some corrective work and also, as it appears from personal testimony, do some damage:shocked



I am praying that we get some sunshine this week so I can document this process with pictures and post my results. I will use various products/pad, all non-filling products of course, and hopefully put this question to rest.



If any of you have any pics please feel free to post them in this thread. Also I wish to let everyone know that although Bud has sought to "drop" the issue because he feels I have made it "personal" I in no way harbor resentment towards him and I am now continuing this to satisfy my own curiosity and not to "prove" Bud or anyone else wrong:)



Thanks again,

Anthony
 
Just as a side note to whoever may be interested.



I don't have time at this 5 minutes to go over everything I discoverd, but here is some resource material I found recently.



I had just purchased a Cyclo polisher from Rightlook.com last week and they now enclose a 30 page manual they produced that they give to you free with the purchase. It is VERY insightful as to how to remove swirls with the Cyclo. It is full of pictures and techniques with results as stated earlier by WCD.



I will take a look at the manual and post some info from it later.
 
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